Always doing for others

By Jackie Bridges

Published: Monday, October 1, 2012 at 08:14 AM.

Sharon Robbs, senior center director, said Henderson came along at just the right time.

"She stepped up to the challenge of volunteering in an area that some people would mostly likely not consider serving," Robbs said. "Janie never complains. She humbled herself as a servant and took on the task of assisting with housekeeping. While funds are scarce and sometimes donations are few, our volunteers are filling in the gap and making a difference daily."

Henderson said before she stopped by the Senior Center two months ago, she didn't know what they did there.

"This is a place for seniors to come to get away from home," Henderson said. "They exercise and dance and play bingo. Everybody here is nice and they get along."

Volunteer coordinator Lori Livingston said the Senior Center is able to provide programs and care for seniors because of volunteers like Henderson.

"They help get the meals ready to deliver and help in the office," Livingston said. "With seniors having to work longer, we don't have as many volunteers as we used to. We use volunteers in every part of the Senior Center."

Janie Henderson, 56, was looking for a job when she stopped by the Neal Senior Center in Shelby.

"Are you hiring?" she asked and was told, "No, but we need volunteers."

Since she didn't have a job, Henderson decided to volunteer at the Neal Center until she finds one. She is used to working around seniors, because she worked in a nursing home close to 10 years.

"I like to work with older people," she said. "Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a CNA."

She walks to the Senior Center every day -- rain or shine -- to mop bathroom floors, clean toilets, sweep, dust and empty the trash.

"Anything they want me to do I do it," Henderson said. "I just like volunteering here. It's a nice place and they help people here. It's just like family and I love everybody here."

Henderson has been caring for people most of her life. She helped her mother, Louise Buff, care for her father, George Junior Buff, when he had both legs amputated. Her son, James Franklin Henderson, is handicapped. She and her husband, Albert Franklin Henderson, also have a daughter, Dorothy Dillon, and two grandchildren.

Sharon Robbs, senior center director, said Henderson came along at just the right time.

"She stepped up to the challenge of volunteering in an area that some people would mostly likely not consider serving," Robbs said. "Janie never complains. She humbled herself as a servant and took on the task of assisting with housekeeping. While funds are scarce and sometimes donations are few, our volunteers are filling in the gap and making a difference daily."

Henderson said before she stopped by the Senior Center two months ago, she didn't know what they did there.

"This is a place for seniors to come to get away from home," Henderson said. "They exercise and dance and play bingo. Everybody here is nice and they get along."

Volunteer coordinator Lori Livingston said the Senior Center is able to provide programs and care for seniors because of volunteers like Henderson.

"They help get the meals ready to deliver and help in the office," Livingston said. "With seniors having to work longer, we don't have as many volunteers as we used to. We use volunteers in every part of the Senior Center."